So ya think you know everything about social media marketing?
Or maybe you're one of those small business owners that knows NOTHING about it?
Social media marketing can be complex and is often overwhelming. So many different platforms. Which one is best for your business? Should you post reels? Just photos? Which hashtags should you use? How much of your marketing budget should go towards it?
There is a lot of information floating around, and some of the most widely believed myths could be sabotaging your efforts.
The truth is - if you have a small business it is an IMPORTANT PART of your digital marketing strategy.
Let's dive right into the top 3 social media marketing myths (in my opinion) and debunk 'em.
🙈 Myth #1: Social Media Marketing Is Free
✅ The Reality Yup, it's true that creating a social media account doesn’t cost anything, but effective social media marketing is far from free.
Setting up a Facebook page, Instagram profile, or Twitter account may not have an upfront cost, but the resources required to manage these platforms effectively can add up. Creating quality content, designing eye-catching visuals, engaging with your audience, analyzing metrics, and running ad campaigns all require time, effort, and MONEY.
I also think it can be worth it to invest in social media ads for reaching a broader audience, especially if you've plateaued with organic reach. However, I wouldn't suggest this for every business.
These ads are targeted, allowing you to reach specific demographics, but they can be a bit tricky and do cost money. Let's be honest, as a small business owner - TIME COSTS MONEY. If you are just starting out it's nice to do your own social media but as you grow, this may be something you outsource.
The bottom line is that while you can start small, true success in social media marketing often requires a financial investment to see significant returns.
🙈 Myth #2: Social Media Marketing Yields Instant Results
✅ The Reality
Social media marketing is a marathon, not a sprint.
So many people believe they will get instant results from their efforts.
They believe that a few posts or a single campaign will bring a flood of new customers overnight.
In reality, social media marketing is about building relationships, trust, and brand awareness over time. It's a long game.
Just like exercising, it takes consistent effort over time to grow your following, engage with your audience, and refine your strategy based on what works and what doesn’t. Even viral content, which is super exciting - can bring a spike in visibility, doesn’t usually translate into long-term success unless there’s a strong strategy behind it.
Please don't forget this point, your efforts are only a failure if you literally give up. So don't do that. Even social media marketing experts that have been doing it a long time have posts and efforts that just don't convert. It sucks but it's just part of evolving and learning.
Always remind yourself social media marketing is a long-term investment, set realistic goals and always be learning. This is the key to social media marketing success.
🙈 Myth #3: Social Media Is Only for Big Brands
✅ The Reality
Ya sure, bigger brands tend to have bigger marketing budgets but I've seen small biz turn into a a pretty big well known brand with a well executed social media marketing strategy. Social media is a powerful and neccessary marketing tool for businesses of all sizes.
Honestly, social media offers small and medium-sized businesses a unique opportunity to compete on a level playing field with larger companies.
Social media platforms are designed to be accessible to everyone, allowing even the smallest businesses to reach a global audience. With a fine-tuned social media marketing strategy, small businesses can use social media to build a loyal following, engage directly with customers, and create a brand presence that rivals much larger competitors.
In fact, smaller businesses often have an advantage when it comes to authenticity and community engagement. They can interact more personally with their audience, fostering stronger connections and brand loyalty. Plus, it's just fun to be able to connect with your audience! Serving your customers is often the very reason you start a business, so why wouldn’t you want to engage with them? If you'd rather hire me to create an awesome social media marketing plan for you, let's chat 😍
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